The identification of free or released glycans, glycopeptides or glycolipids is commonly accomplished by a combination of approaches. Many studies depend on acquiring mass spectra and the conversion of this data into a format suitable for analysis and interpretation. The following information is required by the journal for articles reporting mass spectrometric glycoconjugate analyses. It is very important that authors also review the document entitled Checklist for Publication of Mass Spectrometry-based Glycomic Identification Data.

1. Clear definition of the level of the glycan structural analysis and its relationship to the biological questions addressed in the study.
   Some glycomic studies need only provide profiling of possible structural classes based upon measured mass values and known biosynthetic pathways, while others may require detailed structural analyses (linkage, ring structure (pyranoside, furanoside), anomeric configuration, etc.) to address a biological question. It is essential that authors clearly define the level of the structural analyses being presented and how they are supported by appropriate structural arguments. This is more explicitly outlined in Section III below for MS analyses. It is recommended that authors use the glycan symbolic representations outlined in Essentials for Glycobiology when possible (Fig. 1.5 at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1931/figure/ch1.f5/?report=objectonly).
   
   
2. Search parameters and acceptance criteria
   This Section applies to free glycans and those released from glycoconjugates. As glycosylation of proteins is a post-translational modification, this topic is further covered by the protein, peptide, and PTM guidelines of the journal.
   
   The following supporting information should be included in the Experimental section of the manuscript for MS-based analyses:
   1. Peak lists: The method and/or program (including version number and/or date) used to create the “peak lists” from the original data and the parameters used in the creation of this peak list, particularly any processing, which might affect the quality the subsequent database/manual search. Examples include smoothing, signal to noise thresholding, charge state assignment, de-isotoping, etc. In cases where additional customized processing of the collections of peak lists have been performed — e.g. clustering and/or filtering — the method and/or program (including version number and/or date) should be referenced.
   2. Search engine: The name and version (or release date) of all programs used for database searching must be provided as well as the internal energy deposition and dissociation methods used and the appropriate fragment types
   3. Database/spectral library: The name and version (or release date) of all databases or libraries used must be provided. If a database or library was compiled in-house, a complete description of the source of the sequences or spectra is required as well as the software used for library generation. The number of entries actually searched from each database/library should be included.
   4. Fixed/variable modifications: A list of all modifications (reducing end, permethylation, acetylation, metal ions, etc.) considered must be provided and whether they are fixed or variable.
   5. Exclusion of known contaminants: All omitted peaks from pre-designated contaminants (or if any of these peaks are used for calibration) must be identified. It must also be stated whether degradation products from the isolation method or from in-source fragmentation were considered.
   6. Specificity: A description of all methods to generate glycans or glycoconjugates (enzymatic or chemical), including any assumed specificity, must be provided, as well as the nature of any efforts employed to quantify the efficiency of release/capture. Enzymes used during analysis (glycosyltransferases, glycosyl hydrolases, etc.) should be clearly defined including source and enzyme identification (genbank, uniprot, etc.).
   7. Threshold: The criteria used for accepting individual spectra should be stated along with a justification.
   8. Isobaric/isomeric assignments: The criteria (and/or assumptions) used for assigning a particular individual structure should be stated along with a justification.
      
      
3. Glycan or glycoconjugate identification
   The information for each glycan identified should be specified in the Results (or Supplemental) section.
   1. All assignments: A list (in one or more tables), noting any deviation from expected release specificity, must be provided.
   2. Precursor charge and mass/charge (m/z): These values should be listed for each assignment in same table (including deviation between experimental and theoretical), and significant digits should be consistent with the actual performance of the instrumentation.
   3. Modifications observed: These alterations (reducing end, adducts, etc.) should be listed for each assignment in the same table.
   4. Number of assigned masses: For identifications based on measured mass only, the total number of peaks, both matched and unmatched (at the criteria set above), should be listed in the identification table.
   5. Score(s) (if used): The relevant score (depending on the software used) and any associated statistical information obtained for searches conducted must be provided for each glycan in the table. For isobaric/isomeric species, a rationale for how one or multiple structures were selected for inclusion must be included in the text.
   6. For all identifications, the ability to view spectra for these identifications must be made available. Submission (with the manuscript) of annotated spectra is required or the spectra have to be placed in a public database. Websites maintained by the authors (or their associates) are not acceptable. In addition, submission of supplementary data in a file format that allows visualization of the spectra (m/z and intensity lists) for each glycan assigned is strongly encouraged.
   7. Structural assignments: The rationale, including literature-based biological assumptions, for assigning structure(s) including monosaccharide composition and linkage must be clearly outlined in both experimental and result sections.
      
      
4. Quantification
   Manuscripts presenting quantitative results must provide the following information:
   1. All relevant quantification data (as part of identification tables), along with a description of how the raw data were processed to produce these measurements.
   2. A description of how the biological reliability of measurements was validated (using biological replicates, statistical methods, independent experiments, etc.) Studies based on a single biological experiment that lack orthogonal methods of validation are generally not acceptable (except as a dataset to test bioinformatic systems). If a biological replicate from the same source cannot be performed (e.g. patient sample), a large enough number of similar biological samples, appropriately justified, must be performed in order to enable that the conclusions deduced are sound.
   3. A description of the treatment of relevant systematic error effects (incomplete labeling, interference from overlapping precursor ions, etc.) must be provided.
   4. A description of the treatment of random error issues (rejection of outliers, categorical exclusion of data by threshold selection, etc.) must be provided.
   5. Proper estimates of uncertainty in quantification using replicates and statistical methods. The number of samples (technical and biological) and methods used for determining error analysis, must be provided. Standard methods (standard deviation, SEM, t-test, etc.) or specialized software may be used and must be cited as appropriate.
   6. A description of how isobaric/isomeric species were quantified.